Spring resistant type crib exercising device with rotating carousel

ABSTRACT

A CAROUSEL ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN A CRIB ABOVE AN INFANT LYING THEREIN. BENEATH THE CAROUSEL IS A TRAPEZE BAR. THE CAROUSEL IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A FRAME SUSPENDED BY STRAPS WHICH ARE TIED TO THE SIDE RAILS OF THE CRIB. WHEN THE CHILD PULLS DOWN ON THE TRAPEZE BAR, THE CAROUSEL IS CAUSED TO SPIN WHILE AT THE SAME TIME STORING ENERGY IN A SPRING. THE CAROUSEL HAS TOY FIGURINES SUSPENDED THEREFROM AND CENTRIFUGAL FORCE CAUSES THE FIGU-   RINES TO ROTATE IN A RADIALLY OUTWARD PATH. STRIKER BELLS ARE POSITIONED IN THIS PATH SO THAT THE ROTATING FIGURINES STRIKE THE BELLS. WHEN THE CHILD RELEASES THE TRAPEZE BAR, THE STORED ENERGY IN THE SPRING SPINS THE CAROUSEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND RAISES THE TRAPEZE BAR.

Oct. 26, 1971 STUBBMANN 3,615,092

SPRING RESISTANT TYPE CRIB EXERCISING DEVICE WITH ROTATING CAROUSELFiled Feb. 16, 1870 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 *1 MIL? INVENTOR ALBERT STUBBMANNBY W {wk ATTORNEYS 0d. 26, 1971 STUBBMANN 3,615,092

SPRING RESISTANT TYPE CRIB EXERCISING DEVICE WITH ROTATING CAROUSELFiled Feb. 16, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet Z \X I ll din-I.

48 INVENTOR F I 3 ALBERT STUBBMANN M [M ATTORNEYS United States Patent OU.S. Cl. 272-83 A 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carouseladapted to be mounted in a crib above an infant lying therein. Beneaththe carousel is a trapeze bar. The carousel is rotatably mounted on aframe suspended by straps which are tied to the side rails of the crib.When the child pulls down on the trapeze bar, the carousel is caused tospin while at the same time storing energy in a spring. The carousel hastoy figurines suspended therefrom and centrifugal force causes thefigurines to rotate in a radially outward path. Striker bells arepositioned in this path so that the rotating figurines strike the bells.When the child releases the trapeze bar, the stored energy in the springspins the carousel in the opposite direction and raises the trapeze bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention Infant exercisingand amusement devices.

(2) Description of the prior art As a newborn childs senses aredeveloping there is a need for amusement as well as exercising deviceswhich will maintain the infants interests and provide diversifiedamusement facilities which have, for a limited period of the infantsgrowth, the ability to develop the sensory perception of the rapidlygrowing infant.

Unfortunately most infant toys known heretofore Were not of the typewhich Would combine a plurality of activities directed to several of theinfants senses. For example, the childs common rattle is coordinatedwith but one or two of the childs senses. The rattle is designed to beperceived by the infants sense of touch and his sense of hearing. Whenthe infant grasps the rattle and shakes it, he Will note that a sound isemitted from the rattle. However, a simple toy of this nature does nothave a sufficient interest-maintaining capability and therefore a childwill soon grow tired of the rattle and will discard it for another toy,perhaps even a rattle of another shape or color, or one which emits adifferent sound.

Other toys designed for infants are also adapted for a particular modeof the infants growing sensor capabilities. Some of these toys are cribmounted sounding devices such as music clocks or boxes which are woundby the parent and then play a suitable melody for a period of time.These toys left much to be desired because they did not provide asufficient amusement capability. Furthermore, they could not be wound oractivated by the infant.

Other toys were suited for the visual perception of the growing infantand included various spinning toys which were also wound by the parentbecause the infants stage of manual dexterity precluded the capacity toenergize and actuate such toys.

There have also been numerous crib exercising devices. These toysgenerally consisted of a pull ring which was elastically mounted on thecrib rails and suspended above the infant. Often such pull toys werebrightly colored to attract the childs attention and many of these toys,such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,303,223 included a soundingdevice, e.g., a bell. The difiiculty encountered in these toys was thatthe only visual activity which the infant could perceive was the manuallowering of the elevation of the pull ring or a colored body attached tothe pull ring, and the infant unfortunately lost interest in such toys.

Various 'other pull ring actuable toys have been developed, but they toowere limited and were unable to maintain a childs interest because theydid not provide a plurality of coordinated activities with which toattract a child and also which would increase in value as the childssenses developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide an infants exercise and amusement device of the characterdescribed which is so constructed that it is not subject to any of theforegoing disadvantages.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an infantsexercise and amusement device of the character described which is simpleand rugged in construction, yet can be fabricated by mass productionmethods at an appreciably lower cost than prior devices designed toserve the same function.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an infantsexercise and amusement device of the character described wherein atrapeze bar is suspended above an infant who is lying within his cribwith the trapeze bar actuating a spinning amusement carousel and whichfurther includes audible attention attracting signals.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide anexercise and amusement device of the character described which is wellsuited for an infants entertainment and exercise during the early stagesof the infants development wherein the infants primary senses arerapidly developing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an infantsexercise and amusement device which can be actuated by an infant lyingon his back within a crib and which, when grasped by the infant, withone or both hands, produces both visual and audible infant perceptibleresponses.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an infantsexercise and amusement device of the character described wherein aninfants attention will be retained by a plurality of simultaneouslyactuated attention attracting components While the infant isconcurrently developing muscular coordination.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an infantsexercise and amusement device of the character described wherein aunique combination of multiple amusement and exercise activities areincluded in a single device which is suspended from the side rails ofthe infants crib so that it is accessible to the infants reach andactuable by the infant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, in whichare shown various possible embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a view taken from the inside of a crib and looking from behindtowards an infant lying on his back within the crib, said viewillustrating an amusement and exercising device constructed inaccordance with the invention, with said device being suspended from theside rails of the crib and directly over the infant, and showing theinfants arms outstretched and grasping a trapeze bar which is suspendedand dangling above him;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device with portions thereof broken awayto better illustrate the carousel spinning mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the device with thetrapeze bar pulled down and an energy storing spring being fully wound;when the bar is released the spring Will rewind a cord about a bobbinand simultaneously spin the carousel in the opposite direction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the bobbin with thespiral energy storing spring mounted beneath the bobbin being biased torewind the cord; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through an alternateembodiment of the invention wherein the carousel is rotated by theengagement between a helically twisted strip and a slot positionedwithin the carousel so that when the trapeze bar is pulled down by theinfant, the strip descends and causes the carousel to spin whilesimultaneously storing energy in a helical compression spring; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the device, the same beingtaken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and illustrating anidler pulley about which a trapeze supporting cord is guided and furtherillustrating the bobbin about which both cords supporting the trapezeare wound.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A carousel is rotatably mountedin a frame which is supported in a pendant position above an infantlying in a crib. Two mechanisms are disclosed for spinning the carouselby pulling on the trapeze bar.

-In the first mechanism the bar is suspended from two cords with theopposite ends of the cords Wound about a bobbin at the lower end of thecarousel. A spiral coil spring is mounted beneath the bobbin. One end ofthe spring is fixed to the carousel and the other spring end is fixed toa frame rotatably supporting the carousel. When the trapeze bar ispulled down by an infant, the string unwinds from the bobbin and at thesame time stores energy in the spiral spring and spins the carousel.Upon release of the bar the spring rewinds the string and concurrentlyspins the carousel in an opposite direction.

In the second mechanism the trapeze bar is supported from a helicallytwisted strip. The strip extends into a slot fixed inside the carouseland the end of the strip includes an abutment. A helical coil spring ispositioned between the abutment and a plate within which the slot isformed. By pulling downwardly on the trapeze bar, the strip is caused todescend. The interaction between the strip and the slot causes thecarousel to spin rapidly at the same time compressing the helical coilspring which, upon release of the trapeze, forces the strip upwardlyinto the carousel.

There are a plurality of toy figurines suspended from anchor points onthe carousel and, when the carousel spins, centrifugal force causes thefigurines to rotate in a circular path of a larger diameter than thedistance between the figurine anchor points and the center of thecarousel. In the path of the spinning figurines there are included anumber of striker bells which are suspended from the frame. The spinningfigurines hit the bells and cause them to emit infant discerniblesounds.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10denotes an exercising and amusement device constructed in accordancewith and embodying the invention. The device includes an oval frame 12of I-shaped cross section including reinforcing peripheral flanges andconstructed of a light-weight synthetic plastic. The oval frame 12 ispreferably brightly colored to attract the infants attention. The device10 is supported in a pendant position from the side rails of the infantscrib (see FIG. 1). To support the device in such a position one end ofeach of a pair of flexible straps 14 is attached to the upper surface ofthe frame near each end thereof with the opposite free end of each strapbeing looped about the top rail of the side of the crib cage. This freeend of the strap is turned back on itself and secured to an intermediateposition of the strap with a buckle 16 to prevent the device fromfalling on the infant.

A carousel 18' is mounted .in the frame 12 and journalled for rotationaround a vertical axis. The carousel 18 is preferably molded of alight-weight synthetic plastic and is also brightly colored to attractthe infants attention. The upper surface of the carousel includes anumbrella top 20, the undersurface of which includes a plurality of ribs22. An upwardly, outwardly flaring conical trunk 24 extends from abobbin 26 at the base of the carousel to the ribs 22 on the undersurfaceof the top 20'. The bobbin 26 includes a cylindrical central portion 27about which cords are wrapped with the recessed central portion 27bounded by upper and lower flanges 28 and 30. The carousel is rotatablymounted on a vertical shaft 32 which extends through an opening 34 inthe upper portion of the oval frame 12. The shaft 32 also runs through abearing 36 which is formed on the umbrella top 20. The lower portion ofthe shaft 32 extends through an opening 38 in the bobbin 26 and thenthrough a sleeve 39 projecting downwardly from the bobbin. The shaftthen extends through an opening 40 in the bottom of the frame. It willbe appreciated that when the carousel spins, the undersurface of thesleeve 39 is in sliding engagement with the shoulder in the frameadjacent the opening 40. As illustrated in FIG. 2 the shaft 32 issuitably peened at both ends for captive retention.

The portion of the carousel which includes the bobbin 26 is concealedfrom view Within a hollow enlargement 42 of the frame 12. The hollowenlargement 42 includes a symmetrically positioned upwardly, outwardly,flaring curved wall 44 which increases the width of the hollowenlargement 42 so that it may accommodate the bobbin and provide apleasing, aesthetic appearance.

A stationary base platform 46 is secured to the top of the hollowenlargement 42. The top of the hollow enlargement includes a circularflange 45 which is engaged by a circular opening through the baseplatform 46 to mount the platform. The base platform 46 includes adownwardly, slightly outwardly flaring skirt and serves as an attractivecover which conceals the top of the hollow enlargement 42. The uppersurface of the platform 46 also includes a plurality of ribs whichcorrespond with the ribs 22 on the undersurface of the umbrella top 20.

As was previously mentioned, the carousel includes a trapeze bar which,when grasped and pulled by the infant, will cause the carousel torapidly spin, producing in addition to the visual effects, infantdiscernible audible animation. The trapeze bar actuated animationmechanism includes a horizontal bar 48 preferably formed of a syntheticplastic and also attractively colored to attract the infants attention.The ends of the bar 48 are suitably capped to provide smooth,noninjurious surfaces. The bar 48 is suspended from the hollowenlargement 42 of the frame 12i by two cord segments 50 and 52. The cordsegments 50, 52 extend upwardly through openings 54, 55 at the bottom ofthe hollow enlargement 42 and into the interior thereof. Each cordsegment then extends around an idler pulley 56, 58 and the cord segments50, 52 are interconnected at the cylindrical central portion of thebobbin -26. The cord segments 50, 52 are suitably secured as with astaple-like tack 60 to a point on the central portion 27 of the bobbin26. To secure the ends of the segments to the bar 48, openings areprovided along the bar 48 adjacent the ends thereof, and each segment isthreaded through the opening and knotted (see FIG. 2).

It will be observed that when the carousel is turned in one direction,the segments 50, 52 will wrap about the cylindrical central portion 27while the bar 48 is drawn upwardly toward the bottom of the hollowenlargement 42. In order to prevent the bar 48 from rising completely upto and against the bottom of the hollow enlargement 42, a spacer isprovided. The spacer includes two hollow tubular sections 62, 64 withthe associated cord segment being threaded through each of the tubularsections and into one of the openings in the bar 48. Thus, when the baris drawn upwardly toward the frame 12, it will stop at a positionparallel to, yet spaced from, the undersurface of the hollow enlargement42. The length of the tubular spacers 62, 64 is such as to permit aninfants hand to easily grasp the bar without contacting the frame 12. Itshould also be noted that the length of the bar 48 is sufficient toallow the bar to be grasped and pulled by both of the infants hands.

The hollow enlargement 42 not only includes a central outwardly flaredwall but additionally includes opposed parallel spaced walls. The idlerpulleys 56, 58 are journalled for rotation between the spaced parallelwalls (see FIG. 6). The pulleys are in fact journalled on opposedbearing surfaces 66 which project in op posite directions from theparallel wall portions.

It will thus be seen that with the cord fully wrapped about the bobbin26 the bar 48 will be close to the bottom of the frame 12 and spacedfrom the bottom of the frame 12 a distance equal to the length of thetubular spacers 62, 64. When an infant grasps the bar 48 with one orboth hands and pulls the same downwardly, the cord unwinds from thebobbin 26 causing the carousel to spin. FIG. 3 illustrates the lowestposition of the bar 48 and shows the cord completely unwrapped from thebobbin 26.

In order to further enhance the utility of the present invention, aspiral coil spring 68 is provided, which spring will store rotationalenergy while the bobbin unwinds and which will dissipate its energy byrewinding the cord and spinning the carousel in the opposite directionwhen the infant releases the bar 48. The spiral coil spring 68 ismounted beneath the bobbin flange 30 and between the bobbin and thebottom wall of the hollow portion 42. The inner end 70 of the spiralcoil spring 68 is inserted into a slot 72 in the sleeve 39 while theouter end 74 of the spring 68 is looped and positioned over a post 76which projects upwardly from the bottom of the hollow portion 42. Thus,the spring is biased between the sleeve 38 (in effect, the carousel) andthe post 74 (in effect, the frame 12). When the bar 48 is pulleddownwardly the cord unwinds from the bobbin 26 at the same time windingthe spring 68 and storing rotational energy therein. Upon release of thebar 48 the spring 68 is free to rotate the carousel in the oppositedirection while simultaneously rewinding the cord about the bobbin.

It should be noted at this time that when the infant pulls the bar 48 heis not only causing the carousel to spin, but he is increasing theenergy stored in the spring 68 and pulling against the bias of saidspring. At early stages in the infants development he will only be ableto pull the bar down with both hands; for this reason, the bar 48 is ofsuflicient length to permit both of the infants hands to grasp differentportions of the bar.

In order to provide an attractive and attention attracting audibleamusement which is actuated simultaneously with the spinning of thecarousel, a plurality of tiny figurines 78 are suspended from theumbrella top by strings. Each figurine is mounted on a string, the freeend of which is threaded through an opening in the undersurface of theumbrella top 20. When the carousel spins, each figurine suspendedtherefrom will also spin about the shaft and the centrifugal force willswing the figurine 78 radially outwardly so that its circular path oftravel will have a greater radius than the distance between the openingin the umbrella top 20 through wihch the string passes and the shaft 30.

To produce an audible sound, the figurines traveling in their spinningpath strike bells '80 which are suspended from the upper portion of theoval frame 12 adjacent the ends thereof so that they are pendautlypositioned within the path of the spinning figurines. The bells 80 aresuspended on flexible strings 82 which are secured at their oppositeends through openings in the frame 12. When the carousel spins, eachbell will be struck by the passing figurines to produce an attentionattracting and amusing audibly perceptible signal to the infantsdelight.

A further amusement and exercising feature included in the invention isthe provision of pull rings 84 which are rotatably secured to the lowerportion of the frame 12 in symmetrically disposed positions spaced fromthe trapeze bar 48. The rings 84 are secured on the frame 12 throughstuds 86 which are integrally formed with the frame and projectdownwardly therefrom. The studs '86 project into openings in the rings84 and the diameter of the studs is less than that of the openings sothat the rings are free to rotate. The ends of the studs are suitablyenlarged to prevent disengagement of the rings 84.

The rotatable rings 84 are also gaily colored and preferably fabricatedof lightweight plastic. The rings 84 provide an additional exercisingand amusement feature to attract the infants attention. The infant willhave the opportunity to either grasp and pull down upon the trapeze bar48 to actuate the carousel and figurines and additionally the bells 80or will have the opportunity to also either spin the rings 84 about thestuds 86 or grasp the rings 84 in an attempt to pull himself up. Thestuds 86 are of sufficient strength to permit the infant to actuallyphysically pull himself up from the mattress surface of the crib.

An alternate embodiment of the device 10a is illustrated in FIG. 5. Thisembodiment includes a similarly consturcted oval frame 12a which issupported from the side rails of the crib in an identical manner to thatof the preferred embodiment. This embodiment employs a differentengagement between the trapeze 'bar 48a and the carousel 18a forrotating the carousel.

The upper end of the carousel 18a is journalled for rotation withrespect to the frame 12a through a pin 34a. The lower end of thecarousel 18a does not include a bobbin but includes a cylindrical sleeve88 which engages the bottom of the frame 12a. A rod 90 projects upwardlyfrom the center of the bar 48a through an opening in the bottom of theframe 12a and into the hollow carousel 18a. A helically twisted strip 92extends from the end of the rod 90 further into the hollow carousel 18a.The strip 92 passes through a slot 94 positioned in a plate 96 which ismounted within the carousel on rigidly attached flanges 98 which projectinwardly from the walls of the carousel. An abutment plate 100 ismounted on the end of the helical strip 92 and a helical compressionspring 102 is positioned between the plate 100 and the plate 96 andurges the strip 92 to a position wherein it is drawn to the top of thecarousel18a.

It will be noted that when an infant grasps the bar 48a and pulls thesame downwardly, the rod 90 will descend along with the helicallytwisted strip 92. When the strip 92 travels past the slot 94 thecarousel is caused to rotate. Such rotation continues until the springis fully compressed. The spring 102 will have thus stored energy whilethe strip 92 was pulled downwardly. Upon release of the bar 48a thespring 102 pulls the strip 92 and the rod 90 upwardly into the carousel18a. The rod 90 is suitably keyed (e.g. of non-circular cross section)with respect to the frame 12a so that it will not rotate when the spring102 pulls the rod upwardly. The keyed portion 106 of the rod 90 projectsradially from the rod and the upper end thereof acts as a stop, whichabuts the bottom of the flange 98 to limit the return movement of therod 90. The keyed portion 106 mates with a non-circular enlarged slot108 which extends through the lower portion of the frame 12a. When thebar 48a is released from the downstrokeposition the keying engagementprevents rotation of the rod 90, with respect to the frame, thus thecarousel will spin with respect to the frame.

It will thus be evident that as a childs sensory perception develops,the present exercising and amusement device will be well suited formaintaining the childs interest as well as developing the childs basicsenses. Indeed, an important feature of the invention resides in thefact that the device increases in utility while the infant develops.When an infant is very young, he will merely be attracted by the shapespresent in the device. Subsequently, his attraction will increase as heobserves the various colors of the device. During these initial stagesof the childs development, the parent may suitably activate the carouseland its audible amusement signals by pulling on the trapeze bar. Afterthis, the child himself will acquire an interest in activating thedevice by pulling the trapeze bar and, to his delight, he will observethe spinning carousel and hear the pleasant sound of the bells. Theforce required to pull the trapeze bar is such that it is well withinthe capabilities of the growing infant, and it additionally is such thatit promotes muscular development and coordination which is so necessaryin these early stages of child development.

It should be noted that the trapeze bar is in the order of approximatelyA2 to 6 inches from end to end and may be readily grasped by the infantwith both hands. Thus the device is actuable by the infant even if he isphysically unable to pull the bar down with a single hand. He may, ofcourse, use one hand when his strength increases.

The inclusion of the rotatable rings on the underside of the oval frameis a feature which provides for early stimulation of the infant who maymanually rotate the rings and thus develop muscular coordination in hishands. A further feature which the rings provide is that of chinninghandles by which the infant may attempt to lift himself from themattress of the crib. This, of course will come at a later stage of theinfants development wherein his muscles have reached these physicalcapabilities.

Thus, it will be seen that there are provided crib exercise andamusement devices which achieve the various objects of the invention andwhich are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the present invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described the present invention, there is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A crib exercise and amusement device suitable for maintaining aninfants interest and promoting the infants sensory perceptiondevelopment, said device comprising a frame, means for supporting saidframe from the side cage walls of an infants crib so that the frame ispositioned over the crib mattress, an animatable activity member, meansmounting said activity member on the frame for movement relative to theframe, infant actuatable means for animating the activity member, saidinfant actuatable means including a horizontal trapeze bar, said barbeing of a length sufiicient to be grasped simultaneously by both handsof the infant, and means kinematically interconnecting the trapeze barand the activity member, said last named means animating the activitymember when the trapeze bar is pulled down- Wardly by the infant, saidinfant actuatable means further including an energy storage means, saidenergy storage means storing energy when the trapeze bar is pulleddownwardly and means interconnecting said energy storage means and thetrapeze bar so that the trapeze bar is pulled upwardly and the activitymember is animated when the trapeze bar is released by the infant topermit the energy storage means to dissipate its stored energy.

2. -A device constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the activitymember is rotatably mounted.

3. A device constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the activitymember includes an enlarged top and wherein the device includes aplurality of figurines, and means suspending the figurines from theenlarged top, the figurines rotating with the activity member when theinfant actuatable means is actuated, the rotating figurines being swungoutwardly from the rotational axis of the activity member by centrifugalforce.

4. A device constructed in accordance with claim. 3 wherein audibleamusement means are included, said audible amusement means comprising apercussion actuatable device, said percussion actuatable device beingpositioned in the path of the rotating figurines, the rotating figurinesstriking the percussion actuatable device when the activity member isspinning.

5. A device constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherin the energystorage means comprises a spiral coil spring, one end of the spiral coilspring being in engagement with the activity member, and the other endof the spiral coil spring being in engagement with the frame.

6. A device constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein the meanskinematically interconnecting the trapeze bar and the activity memberincludes a cylindrical bobbin, said bobbin being unitarily formed withthe activity member, and a cord having an intermediate point connectedto the bobbin and spaced portions connected to spaced portions of thetrapeze bar.

7. A device constructed in accordance with claim 6 wherein the spacedportions of the cord are connected to the trapeze bar adjacent each endthereof.

8. A device constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the meanskinematically interconnecting the trapeze bar and the activity memberincludes a vertical rod extending coaxially from the trapeze bar intothe activity member, said last mentioned means further including ahelically twisted strip, means securing the rod to the strip, theactivity member including a slot, the strip extending through the slotso that when the bar is pulled downwardly the strip rotates the activitymember.

9. A device constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein the energystorage means includes a compression spring, the helically twisted stripincluding an abutment at the end thereof remote from the rod, thecompression spring urging the abutment end of the helically twistedstrip away from the slot.

'10. A crib exercising and amusement device suitable for maintaining aninfants interest and promoting sensory perception development in theearly stages of child development, said device comprising an oval frame,means supporting said frame from the side cage walls of an infants cribso that the frame is positioned over a crib mattress, the oval framehaving upper and lower reaches, an animatable activity member, meansrotatably mounting said member between the reaches of the oval frame formovement about a fixed axis and means for rotating the rotatablemounting means, the last mentioned means including a hand engageablemember and means connecting the hand engageable member with therotatable mounting means, to allow said hand engageable member to movetranslationally relative to the frame.

11. An infant exercising and amusement device, said device comprising aframe, means mounting said frame on a crib in a position over amattress, said mounting means maintaining a frame at a fixed elevationrelative to the mattress, an infant hand engageable exercise bar, saidbar being disposed beneath the frame and within an infants reach, meansmounting the bar for translational movement relative to the framebetween an relaxed uppermost position and an extended lower position,means biasing said bar toward said uppermost position, said biasingmeans yielding to permit an infant to pull the bar downwardly, infantengageable hand grips, means mounting said hand grips beneath and to theframe and within an infants reach, the hand grip mounting meansmaintaining the hand grips at fixed elevations beneath the frame,whereby an infant has the option to exercise by either pulling the bardownwardly against the force of the biasing means or lifting himselffrom the mattress by pulling on the hand grips.

12. A device constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein means isincluded to journal the hand grips for rotation with respect to theframe.

13. A device constructed in accordance with claim 11 wherein theexercise bar is of a length sufficient to be simultaneously gripped withboth hands.

14. A device constructed in accordance with claim '11 wherein anactivity member is included, means mounting the activity member on theframe for movement relative to the frame and means kinematicallyinterconnecting the exercise bar and the activity member to move theactivity member when the exercise bar is pulled.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1943 Eisel 272--61 8/1958Handler 272-31 R 1/1961 Gjertsen 46175 X 2/1963 Mayer 272-61 X 6/1965Sexe et al. 272 83 R RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner W. R. BROWNE,Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X. R.

